Landing-chassis or under-carriage of aeroplanes and the like.



T. SOPW|TH.- Q NDER CARRl'AGE'OF AEROPLANESAND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1917- flee? 0.1 Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

LANDING CHASSIS OR u 1%395736,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IKE.

T SOPWlTH.- LANDING CHASSIS 0R UNDER CARRIAGE 0F AEROPLANES AND THE L APPLICATION FILED MAY I2. 19!]. Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a m. m W 3 r M A rHoMAs sorwIri-I, on KINGSTON-ON-THAMES, nnenaivni LnnDii've-onnssIs on unnna-caaniaeln or AEROPLANES imam-n1 Linn.

Specificatioh of Letters Patent. Patented graph Application fi1ed'May 12,19l7. Serial No. 168,292.

7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs SorwrrH, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Kingston-on-Thames,-in the county ofSurrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Landing-Chassis or Under-Carriages ofAeroplanes and the like, of which the foilowin is a specification.

This invention re ates to the landing chassis or under-carriages of aeroplanes and the like, and it consists of an improved construction and arrangement of axle for carrying the wheels of said chassis or under-carriage, the object being to absorb more perfectly and completely the shocksset up when an aeroplane or the like is landing:

' twoparts o We attain this end by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a broken view in front elevati on of the landing chassis or under-carriage,

Fig. 2 is a broken view in side elevation thereof, and a -Figs. 3 and 4 are views on an enlarged scale in transverse section and broken plan respectively showing the method of pivoting the ends of the two parts of the axle carrying the wheels.

Throughout the views similar parts are marked. with like letters of reference. i

.The axle a; carrying the wheels I) is formed in two parts the adjacent-inner ends a of which are pivoted to the lower transverse 1 member or spar w of the landing chassis or under-carriage. This member or spar is preferably 'rooved as shown to enable the f the axle to. lie within it sees to reduce the head resistance, and said spar is preferably made of stream-like form as shown, At or about thecenter of the member or spar w is mounted a plate o'which conforms to the shape of the-groove ins'aid member or spar, and said plate is fixedin position by means of suitable bolts cZLfIn the center ofthis'plate is mounted an eye bolt 6 to which the cable supporting the member or spar a is attached. Mounted in the member or spar w on each side of the eye bolt e are pins on which the inner-ends of the two parts 0 the axle a are pivotedso as to enable their outerends carrying thelanding wheels to'move through a vertical are in relation to the chassis or under-carriage. The pins f are threaded into nuts f holes through which a length of wirevcanbe threaded for the purpose of mutually locking the pins to one another and so prevent them from becoming accidentallyunscrewedr The outer ends of the two parts of the axle a, on which the wheels I) are niounted, pass between the two members of the V-shaped side frames- 3 of the chassis or undertcarriage and normally lie in the inverted apices of said frames, a suitable guide piece It being provided on each side member to guide the two parts of the axle in their relative movements in relation to said frames and to take the thrust set up by said axle. On each member of the side frames 3 of the chassis or under-carriage is fixed a stud or bossm, having an exterior flange m These studs or bosses are arranged oppositeto one another on each side of the axle a and may be" provided with loose spools or rollers.

Around each of the two studs or bosses m m on the members of each of the side frames y is wound a cord at of rubber or other suitable elastic material which forms an elastic bridge, the position of the two parts of the axle a in relation to said elastic. bridges being such that the under side of each of said bridge rests on one part of the axle either directly or through the medium of a loosely mounted spool or roller thereon and operates to press it down into the inverted apex of the frame so that when the aeroplane is on the ground the weight of the front part of it is borne by the two elastic bridges. If

desired, vertically arranged flanges 0 may and the length of the flanges at extending upward is such that they willoperate to confine the elastic windings forming the bridges against lateral movement through any are through which either part of the axle a can move;

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.. A landin chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes an the like comprisingtwo V- shaped side frames, a lower member or spar connecting said side frames, a two-part axle the innerends of the two parts of which are pivoted to the lower member or spar at the 7 center thereof and: the outer ends of which side frames, two studs or bosses mounted on.

pass between the two members .of the V- .shaped side frames, vertical guides for said twopart axle said guides being mounted in the apices of the two V-shaped side frames, landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends of the parts of said axle exterior to the the center'thereof, landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends of the parts of said axle exterior to the side frames, two studs or bosses mounted on the outer side of each side frame, flanges carried by said studs or bosses, an elastic bridge carried by and formed between each pair of said studs or bosses and adapted to contact and support one half of the axle, and flanges carried by the two parts of the axle adjacent to the points of contact of the elastic bridges.

3. A landing chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes and the like comprising two V- shaped side frames, a lower member or spar connecting said side frames, a two-part axle the inner ends of the two parts of which are pivoted to the lower meinberor spar, landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends of the parts of said axle exterior to the side frames, twostuds or bosses mounted on the outer side of each side frame, flanges carried by said studs or bosses, spools or rollers mounted on said studs or bosses, an elastic bridge carried by and formed between each pair of said studs or bosses and adapted to contact and support one half of the axle,

' flanges carried by the two parts of theaxle adjacent to the points of contact of the elastic bridges, and spools or rollers on the two parts of the axle at the points where same contact the elastic bridges.

4. In a landing chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes and the like comprising two Vs haped side frames, a lower member or spar'connecting said side frames, transverse pins carried by said lower member or frame, a two-part axle the inner ends of the two parts of which are pivoted to thetransverse pins carried by the lower member or spar, landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends of the parts of said axle, an attachment for the cable supporting the lower member or spar located between the two parts of the axle, a vertical guide plate carried by each side frame, two studs or bosses mounted on the outer side of each side frame, flanges carends of said axle, means for locking the dpivmasses ried by said studs or bosses, spools or rollers mounted on sald studs or bosses,'an'elast1c bridge carried by and formed between each pair of said studs or bosses and adapted to contact and support one half of the axle adjacent I to one of the landing wheels, flanges carried by the two parts of the axle adjacent to the points of contact of the elastic bridges, and spools or rollers on the two parts of the-axle at the points where same contact the elastic bridges.

5. In a landing chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes and the like, the combination of two V-shaped side frames, a lower memher or spar connecting said side frames, transverse pins carried by said lower member or frame, a two-part axle the inner ends of the two part of which are pivoted to the transverse pins carried by the lower memher or spar, landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends of the parts of said pins,

means for locking the pivotal pins to one another, a vertical guide plate carried by each side frame, two studs or bosses mounted on the outer side of each side frame, flanges carried by said studs orbosses, spools or rollers mounted on said studs or bosses, an elastic bridge carried by and formed between each pair of said studs or bosses and adapted to contact and support one half of the axle adjacent to one of the landing wheels, flanges carried by the two parts of the axle adjacent to the points of contact of the elastic bridges, and spools or rollers on the two parts of the axle at the points where same contact the elastic bridges.

6. In a landing chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes and the like,vthe combination of two V-shaped side frames, a lower member or spar of a channel section connecting said side frames, a channel-shaped plate fixed in the center of the lower member or spar, transverse pins screwed into nuts or the like formed on or carried by said plate,

a two-part axle the inner ends of the two parts of which are pivoted to the transverse p'ins carried by the lower member'or spar,

landing wheels loosely mounted on the outer otal pins, a vertical guide plate carrie by each sideframe, two studs or bosses mounted on the outer side of each side frame, flanges carried by said studs or bosses, and an elastic bridge carried by and formed between each part of said studs or bosses and adapted to contact and support'one half of the axle adjacent to one of the landing wheels.

7. In a landing chassis or under-carriage for aeroplanes and the like, the combination of two V-shaped side frames, a lower v member' or spar of a channel section connecting sald side frames, a channel-shaped plate fixed in the center of the lower. member or spar, transverse pins carried by said plate, a twopart axle the inner ends'of the two parts of two-part axle the inner ends of the two which are pivoted to-the transverse pins parts 01": which are pivoted-to the transverse 30 carried by the lower member or spar, land pins carried by the lower member or spar, ing wheels loosely mounted on the outer ends landing wheels loosely mounted. on the outer of said axle, an attachment for the bracing ends of said axle, an attachment for the iser medium'of the lower member orspali located bracing medium of the lower member or between the two parts of the axle a vertical .spar located betweenlthe two parts of the 35 t guide carried by each side frame, two studs axle, a vertical guide carried ,by each side or bosses mounted on the outer side of each frame, two studs or bosses mounted on the side frame, flanges carried by said studs or outer side of-ieach' side framdflange's car? bosses, spools or rollers mounted on said ried by said studsor' bosses, spools or rollers t ,studs'or bosses, an elastic'bridgecarried by mounted on-said studs'or bosses, an elastic 4 'and formed between each pair of said studs bridge carried by and formed between each or bosses and adapted to -contact and suppair of said studs or bosses and adapted to t 'port one'half of theaxle adjacent to one of, contact and support one half of the axle adl the landing wheels, flanges carried by the jacent to one ofthe landing wheels, flanges two parts of-the axle adjacent to the points vcarr ed by the two parts ,of the axle adja--"!.= of conta'ctof the elastic bridges, and spools 1 cent to the pointsof contact of the elastic for rollers on the two partsxof the axle at the bridges, Y and spools orhrollers on the two points where same contact the elastic parts of the axle-at the points'where same 1 8. In alanding chassis or under-carriage. #Intestimony whereof I have signed my 50 of two V-shaped-side frames, aloWer-mem- W1 'said sideframes, a channel-shaped plate: -Witnesses? fixed intheoenter of the lower member 1 or 'H. P.-MUseRAvn;

contact the'elastic bridges;

for aeroplanes and the like-the'combination name.

ber or spar' of a channel seotion connecting spar, transverse pins carried bysaid plate, a I f E. Go'omtnonenr 

